Running DCS Vivladi DIRECT?

my listening levels for the tracks were between 9.5dB and 14dB cut on the DAC

I'd try the 0.2V output setting on the Vivaldi if you attenuated between 9.5dB and 14dB; this way you'd be able to run the volume control to max, with no more than 5dB of attenuation.

Fair point @seigen but the other consideration is level matching with my phono stage. With the current settings the two need the same rough preamp volume settings and so avoid the danger of playing too loud. 

Gain matching across the entire amplification cascade is an interesting topic and one I’ve previously commented on (albeit in the context of phono)

Why do you need to match the output level between your DAC and phono stage? I mean, are you doing on the fly changes between inputs on the preamp while listening simultaneously to your TT and DAC? In that case the Vivaldi would be quieter than your phono stage at the same volume level on the preamp.

The 0.2V setting on the Vivaldi might sound better when run direct into the amps since you'd hardly get to use the volume control at all, keeping it mostly at max.

Why match? To avoid having to remember to add or cut 20-30 steps on the volume control or risk playing way too loud. As it stands the two inputs use the same range which is what I want. Also we want to avoid at all costs using any gain at all in the pre-amp and reducing to 0.2V would mean needing to use almost the full gain stage (12dB) to get 0.7V rated output (not that I of course drive the amps that high but peaks may) while 600mV is much closer to the desired 0.7B output sans gain ... make sense?

In other words the volume control setting and cuts I describe represent the average, the peaks may be close to unity

Plus I should add that the test tone I used for level setting is -20dBFS so if you like the peak you are actually hearing with 14dB cut is +6dB

This all gets confusing which is why I always keep my gain cascade spreadsheet handy and check all the levels so that I get as close as possible to 0dBFS at power amp input sensitivity at the level of preamp gain I prefer